Principal Data Analyst, Fixed Income Regulation

Would working for a mission driven organization give you meaning and purpose in your work? Does the idea of working for a regulator speak to your moral compass?

FINRA is authorized by Congress to protect America’s investors by making sure the broker-dealer industry operates fairly and honestly. We oversee more than 624,000 brokers across the country—and analyze billions of daily market events.

We use innovative AI and machine learning technologies to keep a close eye on the market and provide essential support to investors, regulators, policymakers and other stakeholders.

If this sounds appealing, keep reading...

FINRA Is hiring a Principal Data Analyst.


Under general guidance from the Director and Senior Director, the Principal Data Analyst, Fixed Income Regulation, is responsible for the identification, development, and analysis of a wide variety of fixed income data sources, using a variety of techniques, in support of Member Supervision and Trading and Execution risk-based fixed income examination programs. This includes conducting ad hoc data analyses as well as an annual, data-driven risk analysis that forms the foundation of FINRA’s annual municipal examination plan, as mandated by Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board (MSRB) regulations.

The Principal Analyst uses statistical methods to enhance the risk analysis and participates, with the Director or Senior Director, in consultations with FINRA Technology, and MSRB and SEC staff regarding data provided by those organizations that is necessary for FINRA to fulfill its examination responsibilities.

Essential Job Functions:

• Conducts complex data analyses with limited supervision using a variety of techniques.  Extracts, organizes, manipulates, and analyzes data from a range of sources generated by the fixed income activities of FINRA member firms, including transaction data and regulatory filing data.
• Develops the annual risk assessment of FINRA-member MSRB registrants to fulfill FINRA’s statutory obligation to conduct periodic, risk-based examinations of these firms.
• Designs tools that enhance staff understanding of firms’ fixed income activities, evaluate firm compliance with fixed income-related regulatory obligations and assist with risk review execution by Member Supervision staff.
• Produces understandable visual and written explanations to support and enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of Member Supervision and Trading & Execution – Fixed Income risk assessment and examination execution. 
• Performs sophisticated ad hoc research and analysis of internal and external data sources in response to requests from management. May suggest and pursue research topics under the Senior Director’s supervision.
• Participates in the technology development process to ensure successful and timely delivery of reports and tools. Supports coordination with end users of the identification and development of requirements for new technology solutions and the enhancement of existing technology and procedures supporting the examination and risk monitoring processes.
• Creates and prepares high-quality charts, graphs, reports, and briefing materials and presents findings to senior leaders within Fixed Income Regulation, Member Supervision, Trading & Execution and the MSRB.

Other Responsibilities:

• Supports Member Supervision and TFCE-Fixed Income execution of FINRA's fixed income program by coordinating issues, policies, regulatory matters, and the exchange of information among FINRA departments and the MSRB and SEC as needed.
• Conducts staff training, such as nationwide training events, to enhance staff understanding and enforcement of MSRB and FINRA rules and interpretations.

Education/Experience Requirements:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Math, Statistics, or Economics with seven (7) years of related financial, investigative, or economic data analysis experience; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Advanced degree preferred.
• Minimum of four (4) years of experience in the field of quantitative analysis as it relates to the securities industry.
• Direct experience using order- and trade-level data for fixed income.
• Expert quantitative skills, including data analysis using spreadsheets and statistical packages (such as SQL, Python/R, STATA, etc.) to extract financial and securities-related data from sources including databases and Big Data environments, and present concise explanations of complex analyses.
• Experience combining data from multiple sources and in assessing data quality, consistency, and completeness.
• Strong empirical background.
• Ability to understand and apply advanced economic and statistical concepts.
• Advan